"Tum mujhse gussa thi na? Kyu na besharmi karke tumhara gussa shant kiya jaaye?"
Her hands landed on his, and her grip tightened on his fingers. Her eyes closed, feeling the tickling sensation of his breath on the back of her ears.
"Aap ye kya kar rahe hai?" she asked, her voice trembling.
(What are you doing?)
"Tumhara gussa door kar raha hun aur chahta hun ki jab gussa door ho toh tumhare andar sharam aur mere andar besharmi bhar jaaye",he said, kissing her earlobe, feeling the softness of her skin.
(I'm taking away your anger and want that once it's gone, modesty fills you and shamelessness fills me)
She shivered, her grip tightening on his hand that held her in place.
"Rahi baat aadhi raat me iss kamre me aane ki... Mai din me aasakta hun, raat me aasakta hun",he said, and his other hand reached her lips as he continued feeling her lips quivering.
(As for coming into this room at midnight... I can come during the day or at night)
"Tumhe yaha..." (Here...)
He rubbed his finger on her lips, then moved to her nose.
"Aur yaha..." (And here...)
His voice was barely a whisper, his lips brushing her ear. He turned her around, their bodies now too close. Her dupatta slipped from her shoulder, and she tried to grab it, but before she could, his hands reached out, and, slowly looking into her eyes, he removed it and threw it aside. Halima broke eye contact, her gaze lowering to his broad chest, her trembling hands resting on his arms. His left hand slipped onto her back, pulling her even closer.
"Yaha...", he whispered again, as his right hand traced her cheek, then moved to her jaw and down to her neck and shoulder.
(Here...)
Her heartbeat quickened at his touch. She tilted her head to look at him, their eyes meeting, and in that moment, she felt as though her entire world was within his eyes,both felt intoxicatedat that moment.
What was this? Why was she feeling this way? Her mind screamed at her to pull away, but her body and heart betrayed her, and she just stared into his eyes without blinking.
"Tumhare pure jism par mera ikhtiyar hai, shohar aur biwi ke beech koi parda nahi hota. Meri har cheez tumhari hai, hum dono hi ek dusre ko mukammal karte hain. Shohar hu tumhara, tumhare naak par chumun ya tumhare har honthon par, jab qubool hai kaha tha tabse, mujhe haq hai... Mujhe haq hai... Sirf mujhe hi haq hai."
(I have a right over your entire body. There's no barrier between husband and wife. Everything of mine is yours, and we complete each other. I am your husband; whether I kiss your nose or every part of your lips, since the moment I said 'I do,' I have the right... I have the right... Only I have the right.)
His eyes closed as she, with tears in hers, hugged him, hiding her face in his chest. He hugged her back, and her embrace brought a sense of solace to his heart.
Hearing his words, she felt more vulnerable than she ever had in front of anyone. She couldn't think straight. She wanted to hide, somewhere no one could find her, but as soon as he finished speaking, she knew she could never hide from him. No one else would even care to search for her except him.
Then why not hide in his arms, where there would be no need for this game of hide and seek?
Slowly, she shook her head, her face buried in his chest, sniffing softly. He tried to suppress his laughter at her cute gesture, already knowing what she was doing.
"Tumhe mere kurte ke alawa aur kuch nahi milta tumhare aasun aur naak pochne ke liye?",he asked, kissing the top of her head.
(You can't find anything other than my kurta to wipe your tears and nose with?)
She laughed through her tears and moved away from him. "Aap aise kyun hain?",she asked.
(Why are you like this?)
"Aap aisi kyun hain? Yahi sawaal mai bhi poochna chahta hun.",he countered, glancing at his kurta.
(Why are you like this? I want to ask the same question.)
She turned and walked toward the bed, starting to gather the books scattered on it and putting them into her bag.
"Aap jaake naha lein, paseene ki badbu aa rahi thi aapse.", she said, grabbing the steel jug as she headed toward the door.
(You should go take a bath; you were smelling of sweat)
He sighed, his once-loving expression turning into irritation as her words sank in. He grabbed his clothes and headed into the bathroom.
Ye piddi mere saare romantic mood ki dhajjiyan udaa deti hai...
When he came out, feeling refreshed, he saw her sitting on the bed with a pillow, staring out of the window, lost in thought.
"Kya hua, sona nahi hai?",he asked, and she stood up, looking at him.
(What's the matter, not sleeping?)
"Aap chatai par so jaaye, jaise aapne mujhe sulaya tha aapke kamre me. Main yahan toh chatai par nahi soungi.",she said with authority, implying that since it was her room, she would sleep on the bed.
(You sleep on the mat, just like you made me sleep on the mat in your room. I won't sleep on the mat here.)
He raised his eyebrows mischievously, stepping closer to her. Taking the pillow from her hands, he placed it back in its spot and made her sit on the bed, then sat beside her.
"Pehle toh tum ye mere baal pocho.",he said, handing her the towel. She stared at him for a moment, then knelt on the bed in front of him and started drying his hair,his eyes closed feeling her small fingers in his hair.
(First, you dry my hair.)
After she was done, she placed the towel on the chair in the corner and returned, standing in front of him.
Knowing exactly what she wanted, he replied, "Aisa toh hai nahi ki humne ek charpaai par kabhi nahi soye hai. Of course dono yahi soyenge."
(It's not like we've never slept in the same bed. Of course, we're both sleeping here.)
"Aap aisa kyun kar rahe hain?" she asked, her eyes lighting up as curiosity overtook her. "Mohabbat ho gayi hai mujhse?"
("Why are you doing this?-
Have you fallen in love with me?")
He stared at her for a moment, pondering her question. Is this love?
"Nahi... Unsiyat ho gayi hai tumse. Taras aata hai kabhi kabhi tumpar." he said, and her eyes widened in surprise as she processed his words. She turned and walked away to the other side of the bed.
(No... I am feeling infatuated to you. Sometimes I feel pity for you.)
Lying down, she murmured to herself, though he could only catch snippets of her words. Smiling, he lay beside her.
"Aapko sharam nahi aayi aisa kehte hua? Mujhe par taras? Main koi bechari nahi hoon, yeh samajh lein aap.",she declared, turning toward him.
(You weren't ashamed to say something like that? Pity for me? I'm not some helpless girl, understand that!!)
He closed his eyes, murmuring, "Besharam toh bana hi diya hai aur pata hai bechari nahi ho. Taras toh mujhpar aana chahiye Allah ko."
(You've already made me shameless, and I know you're not helpless. God should feel pity for me.)
With that, they both drifted into sleep, only for him to wake when he heard the azaan. He woke her up, and they prayed together.
Whenever he was here, he didn't go to the mosque for prayers. He loved standing beside her as they prayed.
Afterward, he told her to ask any questions she had about her studies. Like a good student, she asked many, requesting explanations for several topics. He answered all her doubts and promised to explain the topics she didn't understand later that night.
Once he finished explaining a small topic, he stood up and asked, "Chalna hai aaj?"
(Coming with me today?)
Remembering yesterday's events, she shook her head. "Nahi, mujhe abhi bohot saare topics khatam karne hain. Aap jaayein."
(No, I have a lot of topics to finish. You go ahead.)
He nodded, stepping closer to kiss her forehead. She closed her eyes in response and he smiled looking at her.
After leaving her room, he walked toward the fields, calling out, "Aur Sanket, paani kab chodne ka iraada hai aakhri khet mein?"
(Sanket, when are you planning to water the last fields?)
Sanket, a friend of Raza, looked at him and smiled, walking over with the tube in hand. "Aap bhool gaye? Aapne khet jotne ko kaha tha, phir hi toh doosre kaam chalenge. Par mujhe lagta hai shaadi hote hi sab bhool gaye ho."
("Did you forget? You said to plow the fields, only then will the other work start. But it seems you've forgotten everything after the wedding.")
"Ah man, it must have slipped my mind. I'll plow the last field at Fajr (dawn) tomorrow, and then during the day, I'll go to the market to get some fertilizer and diesel for the engine," he explained, scratching his head clearly embarrassed. After discussing a few other things to buy from the city, he started walking back towards his house.
As he walked, it hit him-his world was changing, and so was he. He wasn't the same man anymore. Something had shifted within him, and he could feel it. He had never spoken to anyone the way he did last night.
She was different. His mind was filled with thoughts of her, their conversations, the moments they had shared over the past week. Then it dawned on him-it had already been a week since they got married.
Approaching his room, he noticed his mother sitting with his father in the living area. They were deep in conversation, but when they saw him, they fell silent. He shook his head in frustration and quietly walked into his room.
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